I wrote about convenience the other day, and interestingly enough, it caused me to think about how inconvenience also influences creativity.

Right now I'm living in a place that was built in the 30s. It doesn't have a washer, dryer, or dishwasher, has an old gas stove that seems to be on the verge of breaking down, and a bunch of other quirks and strange nuances that makes daily efforts take a little more time and effort than most people, myself included, are used to.

And yet, that's part of the charm and the beauty of the place. It actually draws out my creativity rather than hinders it. It forces me to slow down, think differently about how to complete daily tasks, and in the process, creates time and space for me to stop and reflect.

That old gas stove, for example, helped me cook the best batch of scrambled eggs I've cooked in a long time; all because those old dials and elements forced me to focus more on what I was cooking and how I was cooking it than I would if I had a stove that worked perfectly. I dialled in, so to speak, because the inconvenience compelled me to dial in.

Most of the time we look for the fastest way to get our work done because we think that's the way we'll be most productive. But productivity isn't always about being fast or getting lots of things done. It's often more about being intentional and getting the right things done. The little quirks and the inconveniences in my home might initially seem to be a bother, but after a closer look and some time, you can see that they actually make life and creativity better.

When everything comes easy, you aren't as motivated to reflect and innovate. But when things become a bit inconvenient you're motivated to innovate because you're compelled to stop and ask: what's the best way to get this done? And as you work, you have time and space to reflect—which is always great for a creative mind to have happen.